Extra Credit

Following is a list of application deadlines for grants,
fellowships, and honors available to individuals and schools. Asterisks
(*) denote new entries.

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Open. School To Work.

The School to Work Foundation provides grants to help schools and
teachers develop learning activities that apply what is being taught in
the classroom to the real world. The foundation is interested in seeing
how schools bring together educational achievement and work
experiences. Grants may be used to start a new program or fund an
existing one. Grants to individuals average about $1,500; those to
schools and districts range from $15,000 to $20,000. For more
information, contact: School to Work Foundation, 450-A Overland Trail,
Prescott, AZ 86303; fax (520) 445-2757; e-mail rod@stwnews.org; www.stwnews.org.

*May 29. Improving Education.

The National Foundation for the Improvement of Education is calling
for project proposals that outline ways to implement NFIE's
recommendations for improving teacher professional development. The
recommendations can be found in the Foundation's report Teachers
Take Charge of Their Learning: Transforming Professional Development
for Student Success. Organizations that represent or serve public
school teachers or education support personnel are eligible. Up to
eight organizations and their partners will receive one-year planning
grants of up to $2,000. At the end of the year, participants submit
their plans to NFIE and are eligible to receive implementation support.
For more nformation, contact: the National Foundation for the
Improvement of Education at (202) 822-7840; www.nfie.org.

June 15. Reading And Literacy.

The International Reading Association invites its members enrolled
in a doctoral program to apply for the Helen M. Robinson Award, a $500
grant for a student in the early stage of dissertation research on
reading or literacy. Contact: International Reading Association, Helen
M. Robinson Award, Division of Research, 800 Barksdale Rd., P.O. Box
8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139; (302) 731-1600, ext. 226; e-mail research@reading.org;
www.reading.org.

June 30. Computers.

Wolfram Research Inc., makers of Mathematica, a technical
computing software system, announces the High School Grant Program. The
program is designed to support the efforts of K-12 teachers worldwide
who use Mathematica to develop computer-based classroom
materials. Grant recipients get Mathematica training at Wolfram
Research's corporate headquarters in Illinois, copies of the
Mathematica software for their school's computer lab, and
technical support. The number of grant recipients varies from year to
year. For more information, contact: (800) 441-MATH, ext. 279; e-mail
highschoolgrants@wolfram.com;
www.wolfram.com/education/precollege/hsgp.

July 1. Technology.

Electronic Data Systems, an information technology company, invites
applicants for the EDS Technology Grant program. At least 20 $1,500
grants will be awarded to elementary teachers or teacher teams for
projects that use information technology products and services to
improve student learning. Eligible applicants must work at schools
within 50 miles of communities where EDS has a presence. For more
information, contact: Electronic Data Systems, Community Affairs, 13600
EDS Dr., MS A6S-C39, Herndon, VA 20171; (888) 607-7566; fax (703)
742-1513; www.eds.com/community--affairs/com--tech--grants.

August 15. Science Sabbatical.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a government and university
facility researching particle physics, seeks full-time middle and high
school science or technology teachers to apply for the Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory Teacher Fellowship Program. One applicant is
selected each year for a nine- to 12-month appointment to participate
in Fermi lab research and develop educational materials. The fellowship
includes a stipend of $550 per week plus a research and travel
allowance. Up to nine semester hours of graduate credit are available.
Fellows must agree to return to teaching for at least two years after
completion of the program. For more information, contact: Ron Ray,
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, MS 231, P.O. Box 500, Batavia,
IL 60510; (630) 840-8090; e-mail rray@fnal.gov.

*September 1. Music.

The National Music Foundation announces the 1998 American Music
Education Initiative to encourage the teaching of American music in
schools. Teachers of any subject in grades K-12 are invited to submit
lesson plans to teach or use American music in their classrooms.
Finalists receive grants of $1,000 each to purchase classroom materials
or equipment; semi-finalists receive grants of $500 each. For more
information and an application, contact: Gene Wenner, Education
Coordinator, National Music Foundation, 70 Kemble St., Lenox, MA 01240;
(413) 637-1800; e-mail AECWENN@concentric.net.

HONORS

May 29. Foreign Language.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages asks
national, state, and regional members to nominate educators for its
Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in Foreign Language Education.
Nominees must be K-12 foreign language teachers or administrators with
a minimum of five years' teaching experience; they must also be members
of the council with at least three years' standing. For more
information, contact: Regan Greene, American Council on the Teaching of
Foreign Languages, 6 Executive Plaza, Yonkers, NY 10701-6801; (914)
963-8830, ext. 227; fax (914) 963-1275.

*June 1. Social Studies.

The National Council for the Social Studies seeks nominations for
its Exemplary Research in Social Studies Award and the Distinguished
Career Research in Social Studies Award. The first recognizes
outstanding research inquiry into significant issues in social studies
education. The second recognizes research professionals who have made
extensive contributions to social studies education. These awards are
presented annually. The winner of the first award receives a
commemorative gift and a chance to present his or her research at the
Council's annual conference; the winner of the second award also
receives a comprehensive NCSS membership. For more information,
contact: National Council for the Social Studies, 3501 Newark St. N.W.,
Washington, DC 20016; (202) 966-7840, ext. 106; e-mail excellence@ncss.org.

July 10. Economics.

The National Council on Economic Education and the International
Paper Co. Foundation seek applicants for the National Awards for
Teaching Economics. Individual teachers or teams of up to four teachers
may enter. Candidates must have taught a course, instruction unit, or
activity that relates economic principles to students' life
experiences. Awards are made in five grade categories: primary (K-3),
intermediate (4-6), middle/junior high school (7-8), senior high school
(9-12), and an open category for multigrade or schoolwide programs. The
first-place winner in each category receives $1,000; other prizes are
$500 for second place, $250 for third place, and $100 for fourth place.
Contact: the National Council on Economic Education at (800) 338-1192,
ext. 725.

July 15. Teacher Education.

The Association of Teacher Educators has established the
Distinguished Clinician in Teacher Education award to honor
school-based teacher educators in four divisions. Division I includes
K-12 classroom teachers who supervise pre-service teachers, Division II
K-12 classroom teachers who mentor other teachers, Division III
district employees responsible for staff development or in-service
teacher education, and Division IV university faculty who oversee and
mentor pre-service and classroom teachers in professional-development
schools. Award winners in each division receive $300 each. Applicants
must be members of the ATE and must be nominated by their state
affiliate. For more information, contact: Frances Van Tassell, DCTE
Selection Panel, c/o University of North Texas, Dept. of TE&A, Box
311337, Denton, TX 76203-1337; (940) 565-4420; fax (940) 565-4952;
e-mail vantass@coef.coe.unt.edu.

August 1. Teacher Education.

The Association of Teacher Educators seeks applicants for its
Distinguished Dissertation in Teacher Education Award, which honors the
author of an outstanding doctoral dissertation related to teacher
education. The winner receives a plaque and national recognition.
Candidates must have completed their doctoral dissertation within the
past two years at a college or university accredited by the National
Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. For more information,
contact: Veronica Stephen, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln
Ave., Charleston, IL 61920; (217) 581-7896 or (217) 662-8553; e-mail
cfvps@eiu.edu.

August 1. Teacher Education.

The Association of Teacher Educators seeks applicants for its two
Distinguished Research in Teacher Education Awards. Candidates should
submit research papers prepared within the last two years. Winners
receive a plaque and recognition at the ATE's national conference. For
more information, contact: Ken Pool, 2 College Hill, Western Maryland
College, Westminster, MD 21157; (410) 857-2512; fax (410) 857-2515;
e-mail kpool@wmdc.edu.

Lucie Swain, a 1st grade teacher at Josiah Bartlett
Elementary School in Bartlett, New Hampshire, is the winner of this
year's National KIND Teacher Award, presented by the National
Association for Humane and Environmental Education. Among other things,
her class raised money for an animal shelter, built bluebird houses for
the school grounds, and started a recycling club. Swain received an
inscribed plaque, and each classroom in her school gets a year's
subscription to KIND News, a children's newspaper.

The Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic Inc. have
named the following teachers as 1998 state teachers of the year:

Pamela Taylor Henson of Foley (Ala.) High School; Sonja
Schmidt of Tri-Valley Middle School in Healy, Alaska; Peggy
Woods of Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Ariz.; Charles
Rossetti of Springdale (Ark.) High School; Ginger Brown of
Chandler Tripp School in San Jose, Calif.; Mark Mavrogianes of
Northglenn High School in Denver; Marianne Roche Cavanaugh of
Gideon Welles School in Glastonbury, Conn.; and Harry Kutch of
William Penn High School in New Castle, Del.

Brenda Posey of Ramstein American High School (representing
the Department of Defense Dependent Schools); Brenda Gwenetta
Jenkins of C. Melvin Sharpe Health School in Washington, D.C.;
Grace Williams of North Shore Elementary School in Jacksonville,
Fla.; Jamie Price Lipscomb of Evans Middle School in Newnan,
Ga.; Roberta Marie Abaday of John F. Kennedy High School in
Tamuning, Guam; Ellen Schroeder of Olomana School in Kailua,
Hawaii; Glenda Jamison Eubanks of Nampa (Idaho) High School;
Steven Tsutomu Isoye of Highland Park (Ill.) High School; and
Kimberly Giesting of Connersville (Ind.) High School.

Ruth Ann Gaines of East High School in Des Moines, Iowa;
Darla Mallein of Emporia (Kan.) Middle School; Susan
Stucker of Paul G. Blazer High School in Ashland, Ky.; Gustavia
Evans of Thomas Jefferson Junior High School in Monroe, La.;
Joanne DeFilipp Alex of Stillwater Montessori School in Old
Town, Maine; Robert Foor-Hogue of South Carroll High School in
Sykesville, Md.; Mary Ginley of Center School in Longmeadow,
Mass.; Katherine Ann Grzesiak of Eastlawn Elementary School in
Midland, Mich.; Neil Witikko of Hermantown (Minn.) High School;
Martha Hutson of Sumner Hill Junior High School in Clinton,
Miss.; Carol Sue Reimann of Charles C. Clippard Elementary
School in Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Patty Holmes Myers of Lewis &
Clark Elementary School in Great Falls, Mont.; Patricia Randolph
of Scottsbluff (Neb.) High School; Bonnie Parnell of Carson
Middle School in Carson City, Nev.; and Vicki Donovan of Belmont
(N.H.) Elementary School.

Beth Rose Neiderman of Mary S. Shoemaker School in Woodstown,
N.J.; Carolyn Foster of R. M. James Elementary School in
Portales, N.M.; Selina Akua Ahoklui of Erasmus Hall High School
for Business and Technology in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Julian Coggins
Jr. of Mount Pleasant (N.C.) High School; Vickie Boutiette
of Westside Elementary School in West Fargo, N.D.; Sanh Chiet
Lim of Oleai Elementary School in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands;
William K. Richey of Xenia (Ohio) High School. Kay Long
of Broken Arrow (Okla.) Senior High School; Nicki Gayle Hudson
of West Linn (Ore.) High School; and Susan Van Zile of Eagle
View Middle School in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Yolanda Rodriguez Fraticelli of Rafael Hernandez Marin in Rio
Piedras, Puerto Rico; Maureen Spaight of Edward R. Martin Junior
High School in East Providence, R.I.; Christine Fisher of
Southside Middle School in Florence, S.C.; Denise Bryan of Belle
Fourche (S.D.) Elementary School; Linda Arms Gilbert of Black
Fox Elementary School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Joe Farley of
Fulmore Middle School in Austin, Texas; Sharon Holmstrom of
Snowcrest Junior High School in Eden, Utah; and Judith Allard of
Burlington (Vt.) High School.

Philip Bigler of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and
Technology in Alexandria, Va.; Yvonne Ullas of Naches Valley
Primary School in Yakima, Wash.; Susan Lee Barrett of Cherry River
Elementary School in Richwood, W.Va.; Carol Banaszynski of
Deerfield (Wis.) Community Schools; and Mary Ellen Krisko of
Worland (Wyo.) Middle School.

TEACHING TOOLS

Following is a list of free or inexpensive resources that
teachers can order.

The National 4-H Council has released a curriculum guide titled
"Fields of Genes:Making Sense of Biotechnology in Agriculture." The
96-page guide, which was produced by the Council's Environmental
Stewardship program, is designed for use with grades K-12. It offers
ideas and exercises intended to help students understand the basic
scientific principles that fuel the modern agricultural industry. The
curriculum also addresses the ethical issues involved with new
technology. Cost:$5. Contact:the National 4-H supply service at (301)
961-2934.

Caves And Maps.

The United States Geological Survey and the National Speological
Society have produced "Exploring Caves," an educational packet for
grades K-3. The materials focus on the formation of caves and
cave-dwelling creatures. A poster, teaching guide, and instructional
book with lesson plans and activities are included. Other teaching
packets are also available, including "What Do Maps Show?" for grades
4-7; "Global Change," for grades 4-6; "Map Adventures," for
grades K-3; and "Exploring Maps," for grades 9-12. Each is available
free from: United States Geological Survey Information Services, Box
25286, Denver, CO 80225; fax (303) 202-4693; e-mail infoservices@usgs.gov;
www.usgs.gov/education.

Computers.

Intel Corp. and the International Society for Technology in
Education, an organization that promotes the use of technology in
schools, offers a technology education program kit titled "The Journey
Inside: The Computer." The goal of this resource, which is available
free to science, math, and computer teachers of grades 5-9, is to
demystify computers by showing how they work. Materials include a
teacher's guide, lesson plans, student materials, videos, a poster, and
a hands-on chip kit. For a brochure or an order form, call: (800)
346-3029; www.intel.com/intel/educate/teacher/journey.

Crafts.

Free Stuff for Crafting, Sewing, and More, an annual
directory of free or postage-only products, is available from Prime
Publishing Inc. This year's directory features more than 400 items for
such activities as ceramics, sewing, quilting, needlework, and
cross-stitch. The directory includes, among other things, kits, free
samples, and newsletters. Cost: $3. Contact: Prime Publishing Inc.,
1954 First St., P.O. Box 663, Dept. CPPN105, Highland Park, IL
60035-0663.

Fiction Guide.

Novels and Plays, a resource for English teachers of grades
6-12 by Albert Somers and Janet Evans Worthington, features teaching
guides for some 30 well-known books, including Julie of the
Wolves, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Pigman,
Of Mice and Men, The Scarlet Letter, and Macbeth.
Each entry includes a summary of the work, a listing of major themes
and literary concepts, discussion questions, and suggestions for
related reading. Cost: $24.50. Contact: Teacher Ideas Press, P.O. Box
6633, Englewood, CO 80155-6633; (800) 237-6124.

Folk Music.

Two Cougars + Sweet Rock Productions, in conjunction with teacher
and musician John English and students at the Anna Boyd Early Childhood
Development Center in South Carolina, have created an audiocassette
tape, 1,2,3 Sing Along With Me. The tape features songs that
teach counting, animals, body parts, and sequence skills, among others.
Cost: $9.95; CDs are available for $14.95. Contact: John English, 132
Montgomery Rd., Columbia, SC 29203; (803) 735-0781;
www.two-cougars.com.

Fruits And Vegetables.

Dole Food Co. is offering "5 a Day Live," a free kit to help kids
put on a play that promotes the benefits of eating five servings of
fruits and vegetables each day. The 40-minute play is based on an
evening news broadcast; student reporters cover national, local,
health, entertainment, and restaurant news. The kit includes script,
directions for making costumes, set arrangements, song lyrics, and an
audiotape of the music. To order, send a note on school letterhead to:
Dole Nutrition Program, 155 Bovet, Suite 476, San Mateo, CA 94402; or
fax the letter to (650) 570-5250.

The Oral Language Archive, created by the Language Learning Resource
Center at Carnegie Mellon University, offers recorded dialogues in
several languages, including French, Spanish, and Japanese. The
recordings, by native speakers, are available in CD format. Each set,
which includes 45 to 50 dialogues, costs $35. Contact: Oral Language
Archive, Department of Modern Languages, Baker Hall 160, Carnegie
Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890; e-mail ola-ail@andrew.cmu.edu. Transcripts and
translations of all dialogues are available for download at
ml.hss.cmu.edu/llrc/ola.html.

Lyrics.

Sponsored by Partnership for America's Future, Borders Books &
Music, Belkin Productions, and Writer's World Press, Teaching
Lyricism in the Classroom: The Transition From Dickinson to Dylan
includes essays, biographies, photographs, lesson plans, and essay and
lyric-writing competitions. The publication is designed to help
teachers use modern song lyrics in class activities, projects, and
assignments. Cost: $27.56 ($29 for Ohio residents). For more
information, contact: Lyricist Review, 815 Pierce Ave. N.W., North
Canton, OH 44720; (330) 305-9130; www.lyricistreview.com.

Millennium.

The Kids Guide to the Millennium, by Ann Love and Jane Drake
with illustrations by Bill Slavin, provides kids ages 8-12 with various
activities to learn about millennia—past, present, and future.
Student-activity titles include: "Countdown Calendar," "My Family at
the Millennium," "Garbage Tells a Story," and "Your Gift to the
Future." Cost: $7.95. For more information, contact: Kids Can Press at
(800) 265-0884.

Nutrition.

Business and Legal Reports Inc., a publisher of training information
for schools, health care facilities, and community service
organizations, announces a booklet called Teens & Nutrition.
The booklet outlines a nutritious diet, how to make healthy food
choices, and how to avoid food-related disorders such as anorexia,
bulimia, binge-eating, and obesity. A quiz lets students discover how
much they know about nutrition and their body. One copy is available
free; more are $.98 or less depending on quantity. To order, call
Business and Legal Reports Inc. at (800) 727-5257, or fax (203)
245-2559.

The Minority and Women's Complete Scholarship Book and The
Graduate Student's Complete Scholarship Book list nongovernmental
college financial aid for graduate students, women, minorities, and
people with disabilities. Each book describes more than 1,000
scholarships, fellowships, grants, and low-interest loans from private
organizations. Sourcebooks Inc., the publisher of both volumes, also
offers The 'B' Student's Complete Scholarship Book as well as
The Complete Scholarship Book. Cost: $18.95 each. For more
information, contact: Sourcebooks Inc., 121 N. Washington St.,
Naperville, IL 60540; (800) 432-7444.

Tigers.

The National Geographic Society, with support from Exxon, has
prepared a multimedia education kit titled "Habitats: Realm of the
Tiger." The kit, which is intended for use with middle school kids,
examines tiger habitats and efforts to save the endangered species.
Included are two 60-minute videos, posters, transparencies, student
handouts, trivia cards, and a teachers' guide. Cost: $40. (The Save the
Tiger Fund receives $30 from each purchase.) For more information,
call: (800) 5-Tigers.

Toys.

In Discover Educational Toys for Children from Scholar Books,
author Hilary Werdel describes more than 460 learning toys and
activities for children ages 6 months to 18 years. Listed
alphabetically are products, catalogs, periodicals, software, Web
sites, and museums and organizations specializing in educational
materials. Cost: $12.95. Contact: BookWorld Companies at (800)
444-2524.

Underage Drinking.

The U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
offers Combating Underage Drinking, a free fact sheet on a new
program established by the U.S. Department of Justice to address the
problem of underage drinking. Contact: Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse,
P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000; (800) 638-8736; e-mail
askncjrs@ncjrs.org;
www.ncjrs.org/fs94173.htm.

United States.

Abrams publishers announces a new series of compact books, Art of
the State: The Spirit of America, State by State. The first four
titles in the series are California, Iowa,
Maryland, and New Mexico. Each volume highlights the
exceptional characteristics of a state—its natural and man-made
wonders, native and immigrant traditions, local writers, explorers,
inventors, and artists, museums and historical societies, tourist
attractions, statewide events, and official state symbols. Cost: $12.95
each. Contact: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 100 Fifth Ave., New York, NY
10011; (800) 345-1359.

Words.

In Zachronyms: Funny Words for Funny Times, futurist David
Zach offers up a slew of clever acronyms that comment on various
aspects of life at the start of the new millennium. Examples: YUMMIES,
for Young Upwardly Mobile Mommies, and DINKWADS, for Double Income, No
Kids, With a Dog. The book includes 200 such acronyms and more than 40
illustrations. Cost: $10.95. Contact: Innovative Futures Press, 225 E.
St. Paul Ave., Suite 303, Milwaukee, WI 53202; (888) 243-1887;
www.zachronyms.com.

ON THE WEB

Following is a list of World Wide Web sites that teachers and
their students may find helpful.

Associated Press.

AccuWeather and the Associated Press announce the AccuNet/AP Photo
Archive. Students of all ages can view and print out more than 400,000
photos from current and past news stories complete with photographer,
caption, location, and creation date. Historical photos date to the
turn of the century. Students can use the archive for research,
reports, projects, and presentations. Subscribers will receive a source
book of instructions and suggested lesson plans. Teachers are eligible
for a free trial period by calling (800) 566-6606 or e-mailing salesmail@accuwx.com. Go to the site
at: ap.accuweather.com

Cartoons.

Cartoonist Emmett Scott has created a Web site called Cartoon
Corner. Scott offers drawing lessons, explains what cartoonists do,
provides samples of his work, and supplies ideas for creative play,
puzzles, stories, and funny pages. Students can enter their own punch
lines into the bubbles of some of his cartoons.
www.cartooncorner.com.

J. Kasper, a retired teacher, has launched the Middle School
Cybrary, a resource to help middle school students conduct research on
a wide range of topics. It includes hundreds of links to sites covering
U.S. and world history, math, science, literature, art, and music.
Kasper provides brief commentary on the merits of each link.
www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/6617/. A companion site designed for
4th and 5th graders can be found at
www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Tower/1217.

Hispanic Students.

Chrysler Corp. sponsors a Web site to help Hispanic students locate
college scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid
programs. Students can get requirements and deadlines by searching
particular regions, fields of study, or colleges and universities.
www.hispanicscholarships.com/links.html.

Human Rights.

One World Online is the Internet branch of One World Broadcasting
Trust, a British organization focusing on world issues, especially as
they relate to broadcasting. Among the issues addressed are child
labor, ethical consumerism, land mines, and women's rights. The site
also includes a discussion area and a list of volunteer opportunities.
www.oneworld.org.

Journalism.

The Write Site is a multimedia language arts curriculum developed by
Greater Dayton Public Television and made possible by a grant from the
Ohio Education Telecommunications Network Commission. It is designed to
help middle school students explore the world of journalism. Students
learn to craft leads, gather facts, and write stories for publication.
The site includes historical background profiles of famous journalists.
Teachers can download lesson plans and other teaching tools.
www.writesite.org.

Library Of Congress.

The Library of Congress has a wealth of resource materials available
online, including the American Memory collections, online versions of
major library exhibits, the library's catalog of bibliographic records,
copyright information, and reference services. The Learning Page, a
section of the site for educators, provides activities, search guides,
and other research tools. www.loc.gov.

Mathematics.

Alexander Bogomolny, owner of Cut the Knot Software Inc., has
created a site titled "Interactive Mathematic Miscellany and Puzzles"
to help those with what he calls "math anxiety" get over their fears.
Included are games and puzzles that use algebra, geometry, and
probability—all designed to get kids to reason and work out
problems. www.cut-the-knot.com.

Online Educator.

Online Education Inc. sponsors Online Educator, a monthly
curriculum guide and journal that is designed to help teachers use
computers in the classroom. Educators can search a wide range of
subjects by grade level to locate links for lesson plans. The site also
provides forums for discussion and opportunities for teachers to share
links. ole.net/ole.

Politics.

Cafe Progressive is a site designed and maintained by California
teacher J. Todd Chase to provide political and educational resources
for teachers, students, and activists. Included is a section designed
especially for teachers and featuring editorials focusing on race,
gender, class, economics, education, politics, and environmentalism as
well as classroom ideas, lesson plans, and bulletin boards.
users.lanminds.com/jchas.

Vote.

The Web site of Project Vote Smart—a nonpartisan organization
founded by Barry Goldwater, George McGovern, Bill Bradley, Geraldine
Ferraro, and other leaders—features a section called the Vote
Smart Classroom. The centerpiece is a database with the campaign
positions, voting records, funders, and backgrounds of some 13,000
candidates and elected officials. Also included are lesson plans,
vocabulary words, an introduction to the U.S. government, and links to
other government-oriented sites. The classroom materials are not
copyrighted so teachers can download, print, and use them in class.
www.vote-smart.org.

FORYOURSTUDENTS

Following is a list of contests, scholarships, and internships
for students organized by application deadline. Asterisks (*) denote
new entries.

World Pen Pals promotes international friendship and cultural
understanding between young people around the world. Students in grades
4 through college are invited to request a pen pal overseas. Teachers
may request a brochure on class participation. For an application, mail
a SASE to: World Pen Pals, P.O. Box 337, Saugerties, NY 12477; (914)
246-7828.

May 1. Smoke-Free.

The Smoke-Free Class of 2000, a project sponsored by the American
Lung Association and aimed at high school students graduating in 2000,
is organizing a teens-only Web Site Design Contest. Nonsmoking 10th
grade students are invited to submit a design for the official
Smoke-Free Class of 2000 Web Site. The winner receives a free computer,
courtesy of the American Lung Association and McNeil, marketers of
Nicotrol. For more information, call your local Lung Association at
(800) LUNG-USA or go to www.lungusa.org/smokefreeclass.

May 1. Vegetarian.

The Vegetarian Resource Group, a nonprofit organization, invites
students ages 18 and under to submit essays on a diet that does not
include fish, meat, or poultry. The two- to three-page essays may be
based on research, interviews, and/or personal beliefs and experiences.
A $50 U.S. savings bond will be awarded to one winner in each of the
following age categories: 8 and under, 9-13, and 14-18. For more
information, contact: Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463,
Baltimore, MD 21203; (410) 366-VEGE; www.vrg.org.

May 1. Young Playwrights.

Very Special Arts, an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for
the Performing Arts, invites individuals with disabilities to enter the
1998 Playwright Discovery Program. Entrants submit an original script
that focuses on some aspect of a disability. Work by a playwright 18
years old or younger is selected for production at the Kennedy Center
in the fall. The winner also receives scholarship funds and a trip to
Washington, D.C., to view the production. For more information,
contact: Very Special Arts, 1300 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 700,
Washington, DC 20036; (800) 933-8721; TTY (202) 737-0645; fax (202)
737-0725; e-mail playwright@vsarts.org.

May 29. Female Athletes.

Mervyn's, a California-based department store chain, and the Women's
Sports Foundation, a national nonprofit education organization, are
sponsoring scholarships for female high school seniors involved in
sports. One hundred students will receive $1,000 scholarships based on
their athletic, academic, and community activities and financial need.
To apply or request more information, visit your local Mervyn's
department store or contact the Women's Sports Foundation at (800)
227-3988.

May 31. Young Inventors.

Learning Triangle Press, McGraw-Hill's children's science imprint,
invites inventors ages 10-16 to enter the Learning Triangle Press
SciTech Invention Sweepstakes. Contestants submit an entry form with a
nonreturnable photograph of their invention. Multiple entries are
accepted and judged on practicality, creativity, and originality. Five
finalists are selected and asked to submit their invention for judging;
one winner receives a $500 prize. Application forms and information are
located in the back of two books for young inventors: Turn on the
Lights From Bed! and Put a Fan in Your Hat!, both by
automation engineer Robert Carrow. These books are available for $24.95
each in hardback and $14.95 in paperback. For more information,
contact: Lydia Rinaldi, McGraw-Hill, 11 W. 19th St., New York, NY
10011; (212) 337-5045.

June 1. Arts.

The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts honors high
school seniors and artists ages 17 and 18 in the Arts Recognition and
Talent Search. The foundation recognizes outstanding efforts in visual
arts, dance, theater, writing, photography, and music composition and
performance. Awards ranging from $100 to $3,000 are given to 125
students selected to take a one-week, expenses-paid trip to Miami for
workshops and auditions. Students applying by June 1 pay a $25 entry
fee; those applying between then and Oct. 1 pay a $35 fee. Entrants
submit slides of their artwork, video or audiotapes of their
performances, or writing samples. For more information, contact: Arts
Recognition and Talent Search, 800 Brickell Ave., Suite 500, Miami, FL
33131; (800) 970-2787 or (305) 377-1148.

June 1. Kids' Magazine.

Creative Kids Magazine seeks nominations of children ages
8-14 to participate on the magazine's student advisory board. Board
members advise the magazine staff and sometimes contribute stories or
art. Teachers or parents submit a letter of recommendation to nominate
students. The students also write a letter explaining their interest in
the advisory-board position and complete a creative project
illustrating why they are good candidates. For more information,
guidelines, and a nomination form, contact: Creative Kids Advisory
Board, P.O. Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813; (800) 998-2208, ext. 312;
e-mail Creative--Kids@prufrock.com.

June 1. Peace.

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation announces its 1998 Swackhamer Peace
Essay Contest. The 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights by the U.N. General Assembly will be Dec. 10, 1998. High
school students should submit essays of 500 to 1,000 words on the
importance of human rights and responsibilities as we approach the 21st
century. Essays will be judged on subject knowledge, originality of
ideas, development of point of view, insight, clarity, organization,
and grammar. The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive
$1,500, $1,000, and $500, respectively. For more information, contact:
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 1187 Coast Village Rd., Suite 123, Santa
Barbara, CA 93108; (805) 965-3443; e-mail wagingpeace@napf.org;
www.wagingpeace.org.

June 5. Multiple Sclerosis.

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America invites high school
sophomores, juniors, and seniors to participate in PROJECT: Learn MS, a
scholarship essay competition. Students must write an essay of 500 to
1,000 words answering three questions about multiple sclerosis and
issues affecting people with disabilities. One student will receive a
$5,000 scholarship; three students will win a $1,000 scholarship.
Entrants must obtain at least one sponsor willing to contribute $7.50.
Students who raise additional funds for the MSAA receive a variety of
prizes, including color televisions, sweatshirts, and T-shirts. For
more information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: PROJECT:
Learn MS, 706 Haddonfield Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.

*June 20. Publishing.

The 1998 Skipping Stones Youth Honor Awards recognize
students ages 7-17 for their contributions to multicultural awareness,
peace and nonviolence, social responsibility, and nature and ecology.
Ten articles, poems, and photos that illustrate these themes will be
selected for publication in the autumn issue of Skipping Stones
magazine. There is a $3 entry fee. For more information, contact: Youth
Honor Awards, Skipping Stones magazine, P.O. Box 3939, Eugene,
OR 97403-0939; (541) 342-4956.

—Julie Hope Kaufman

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